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posted February 4, 2008 at 23:35 in NBA Free Picks

WHO: Charlotte Bobcats (18-30 SU, 19-28-1 ATS) at Phoenix Suns (33-14 SU, 22-24-1 ATS)

WHERE: US Airways Center in Phoenix

WHEN: Monday, February 4 at 9 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: PHOENIX -14.5, Total 214

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* PHX has covered five of the last six meetings

* PHX has won the last five meetings SU

* Five of the last seven meetings have gone OVER the total

* PHX has had the shooting edge in each of the last seven meetings

* PHX has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings

Charlotte is a team shooting 44.9% from the field, and 70.1% from the charity stripe (the latter figure is last in the NBA). The Bobcats are 29th in the league in rebounding in road games (just 38.6 per). Also:

* CHAR is 1-4 SU & ATS in its last five games

* CHAR has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* CHAR has covered five of its last 19 road games

* CHAR has lost 16 of its last 19 road games SU

* CHAR has played five of its last seven road games OVER the total

Phoenix is second in the NBA in scoring at 109.2 points per game, and is first in shooting percentage at 49.2%. They have averaged 27.4 assists a game. Also:

* PHX has won and covered seven of its last nine games

* PHX has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* PHX has covered five of its last 15 home games

* PHX has won six of its last seven home games SU

* PHX has played six of its last eight home games OVER the total

Uneven offensive performances from the Suns over the last eight days, with a high of 125 points against Atlanta and a low of 81 two nights later against San Antonio. Which will be close to what Phoenix is able to produce on Monday night?

Well, Phoenix has had three nights off prior to this, so they should have fresh legs, which is important for the high-paced offense they want to run. Meanwhile, Charlotte is now on the fifth leg of what has become an arduous road trip, one in which the defense has surrendered 112 points a game and 51% shooting. That would seem to play right into the Suns' hands.

There are two other things for Charlotte which don't seem to help. One is that they'll be missing their best all-around performer, gerald Wallace, with a foot injury. Another is that these players are still upset about coach Sam Vincent making them scapegoats in defeat. That tends to exacerbate itself on long road trips.

We see a potential blowout, so we'll lay the points with Phoenix, the 14.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: PHOENIX

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)